Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-09-16
Ho,v Engaged Couples Behave.

lou Engaged couples EeHGce.
A pretty girl who has had and still
has scores of admirers, was the first to
take the witness stand. Her testimony
was given with charming grace and
carried conviction. It is this:
II have been engaged twice" A
surprised murmur rose from the party.
"And the truth of the saying that there
is no accounting for woman's taste was
fully verified in my case, for the two
gentlemen could not have been more
unlike. The first proposal came from
one some years my senior. He told his
tale with difficulty, and the hesitation
with which he talked impaired to me
something akin to it, for l did not ac-
cept him as quickly as I intended.
However, we became engaged and re-
NAMED so for four months. And do
you know that during the whole time
he never as much as touched my hand 2"
"Never kissed you?" asked a petite
brunette, in tone of wondering in
dignation.
"Neyer"
The other man was an ardent wooer,
and was great stickler for what he
called CHS rights" Having been edu-
Gated, so to speak, in the puritanical
system characteristic of my first en-.
gagement, was disposed to resent the
seeming liberties he took; but I was
told that an engaged couple were ex-
pected to be more demonstrative to
each other than ordinary acquaintances.
Glow do you mean?"
@Well, there is certainly no harm in
woman permitting man to whom
she has plighted her troth occasionally
kissing her. 1t is very frequently done,
l know, and when no such understand
ing exists, an exception to the rule is
found"
II don't know about that" was the
dreamy observation of young fellow
who was said to be engaged. II am
disposed to think the puritancal sys-
tenn is yet very extensively practiced. :"
"What is the conduct towards each
other of engaged couples?" asked one
of the party.
"In honest, serious entanglements?"
queried lady.
"Yes." .....
"When a woman is truly and hon
estly in love with man she is very
careful. Indeed, more than she or
dinarily is, in her conduct towards him.
She is afraid of doing something that
will injure her in his estimation. The
more ardent!y she loves him the more
reserved, frequently, is she with her
caresses and endearments. 1 speak of
the engaged period, of course; after
marriage it is different He perhaps
kisses her few times before they are
married. am told up North, and
even In parts of the South, it is differ
ent. An engagement becomes a pub
lie affair, is announced, and the be-
havior of the couple is expected to be
tnaC OF an engaged couple. Here with
us it has not yet reached that point.
1t IS certainly far more attractive to the
parties themselves, and it is a serious
drawback to flirting and coquetry which
too often characterizes young girls.
With US, girl likes to be with her
fiance, but the moment the public be-
comes aware of the fact that he is her
intended husband, she rather avoids
public appearance in his company.
just why it is 1 do not know, but it is
frequently the case. know lady.
now staid matron who was engaged
for year before marriage, who re-
quested her fance six months before
the time, to refrain from visiting her.
And for six months previous to the
wedding she did not see him, though
they lived within twelve miles of each
other.",